Punch Taverns has appointed two new non-executive directors, including the joint managing director of telecoms giant Cable & Wireless.
Tony Rice spent 16 years with BAE Systems (formerly British Aerospace), culminating in 2002 as group managing director of Commercial Aircraft responsible for the UK Airbus and Commercial Aircraft Business.
He then spent three years at telecare group Tunstall as chief executive from 2002 until its sale to private equity group Bridgepoint in 2005. Rice is currently joint managing director and finance director of Cable & Wireless.
The second board appointment is Ian Wilson, who has more than 20 years' experience as a corporate lawyer and investment banker.
Wilson is currently Strategic Development Director of Amcor Limited, the Australian-based leading global speciality plastics packaging company, where he has been responsible for overall strategic development of the Group since 2000.
Punch Taverns announced that Randy Shure will resign from the board on January 16 2008, the date of the group's 2008 AGM, after 10 years as a non executive director.
Punch chairman Peter Cawdron thanked Shure for his "wise counsel and contribution to Punch over the last 10 years.
"Tony and Ian bring with them a wide range of corporate expertise which will further benefit Punch as we take the group forward to the next stage of its development."
